Good start, but then it gets ruined

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Roger Ebert is one of the highest regarded film critics on the planet, but his review of this movie is so bizarre and out of touch that it's laughable. For those in a hurry: There's a simple, violent theme running through the movie that is both entertaining and dreadful. Jerry (Casey Siemaszko), a meek and unlikely hero, has an unfortunate encounter with a psychotic transfer student, Buddy (Richard Tyson), that leads to Buddy threatening Jerry to a fight after school. Most of the movie revolves around Jerry trying to find some way to escape his destiny but the more he struggles, the more the noose tightens. Well-meaning friends exacerbate the situation, the adults in the movie are self-centered and clueless and Buddy is a pitiless, force-of-nature juggernaut brushing aside any attempt to deny him his bloody satisfaction. This struggle sets the stage for several very funny scenes that also ratchet the tension quite nicely while leading the viewer to the final showdown.END OF REVIEWThis is a greatly underrated teen comedy that will also resonate with many adults. The film's poor reception may have been due to lackluster marketing as I do not remember seeing the movie in theaters or advertised anywhere. There's a rumor that the director angered someone on the production team (Steven Spielberg was an executive producer that later asked his name to be removed) and this may have been a factor.Back to Ebert: the theme of the movie may have cut too close to Ebert's own high school experiences for his comfort or maybe he's forgotten what that period of life is really like. The teenage years usually are the most violent and there is often very little help outside of your immediate peer group. Ebert's taking the obtuse school official to task for not believing Jerry's predicament is ridiculous because this is exactly what adults tend to do: form a preconceived notion about a teen and then view everything through that lens. Witness today how some schools will suspend both parties in a fight, even if one individual does not fight back or defend themselves. Jerry is victimized by both Buddy AND the adults. In a larger sense, Buddy is a metaphor for that dreaded life event--a demonic boss, a false arrest, an unexpected sickness or infirmity-- that all people will face at some point. When it happens you can choose to cower in fear, or, summon your courage and boldly turn to face the whirlwind.

There's something about teenage films in the 80'sthat really keep my attention and this film is one of the aces. Maybe it's the fact Tangerine Dream did the soundtrack or maybe it's the spectacular cinematography, but the sole reason that makes this film resonate is the heart that exudes. It captures the essence of the high school kid that gets involved in an unintentional situation-anyone can relate. All the elements come together in this movie- references to Lincoln (Fast Times ?), Tangerine Dream (Risky Business), and not to mention the stellar performances to provide a very unique look into a subject NeVeR displayed on film the way this one does, the high school fight.

So I watched 1987's three o'clock high starring, well no one whose name you will probably know. So is it good, I say it is was rad dude. I love this movie, I have seen it a few times since its original release, and I think it has the makings for status as a cult classic, if it hasn't achieved that moniker already. So it holds up 20 some odd years later, well why? Well I guess its the clever story, the humor, the use of the western theme where two men draw guns at high noon (well at three after class here), and the subtle homage to the biblical story of David versus Goliath. You take all that, you add a young Barry Sonnenfeld working on cinematography (men in black, Addams family, etc), a young Lisa Simpson playing a cheerleader, a practically unseen Paul Feig (freaks and geeks, the office, etc), and a bulked up Skinner from the x-files, you have a movie worth watching for a variety of reasons. I like how the characters day slowly goes from bad to worse just because he touched the wrong guy, how everything goes haywire after that, and how not only does he redeem himself in the end, but becomes both a living legend and a stud in the process before the fight even begins. This movie is just great, it is made in the mold of a John Hughes flick in some ways as well, these types of movies were green lighted a lot during that period, but this one stands on its own . So if you like 80's flicks that don't suck (well the music tangerine dream did does), if you like a good teen high school flick, or if you like clever and unique movies you can't go wrong. So put on your wayfarers and vans, pop some jiffy pop, maybe find a new coke somewhere, and enjoy.

Richard Tyson as Buddy Revell is a badass. He's scary as hell and doesn't take crap from anybody… anybody! When Jerry (Siemaszko) is assigned to write a paper about Buddy, he accidentally touches him (whoever touches him gets his ass whooped) causing Buddy to challenge him in a fight in the parking lot at yup, you guessed it, three o'clock. It's fun to watch all the things he does to weasel out of the fight, including paying the toughest school jock only to see him get taken down with ease, and then witnessing how Jerry implodes at how useless all his attempts are. What makes this movie good? Richard Tyson. Nobody could've played Buddy Revell better. If you've seen Kindergarten Cop, it seems like he plays the same character when he used to attend high school. This is one of the only main roles that Siemaszko does and he does it well. A go-to guy as a sidekick in most of his roles (Back to the Future, Stand By Me, Young Guns), he plays the Michael J. Fox card here with his innocent and clumsy look. It's just one of those fun movies you can watch over and over again. Kinda makes me think why Steven Spielberg wanted his name removed from the credits as executive producer but didn't mind that everyone knew that he directed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.